concanavalin-a and Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder characterized by the presence and growth of endometrial tissue in ectopic sites. In this study we examined the immunological functions of patients with endometriosis and serum level of PCBs and p,p'-DDE to verify the impact of these environmental contaminants on the dysregulation of immune functions. We found that proliferative responses and immunoglobulin production were not dysregulated in patients with endometriosis while NK cell activity was significantly down-regulated in these patients. Moreover, a significant down-regulation of IL-1beta and IL-12 production was found in patients with respect to controls. Serum levels of PCBs and p,p'-DDE were found to be significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in the control group, with respect to the sum of the congeners most prominent in human tissues. In particular, total PCBs concentration in patients with endometriosis and controls was respectively 330 and 160 ng/g fat with respect to the most abundant congeners, while p,p'-DDE concentration was of 770 and 310 ng/g fat. Moreover, we found that normal human PBMC pulsed with PCBs, p,p'-DDE and their combination showed a significant down-regulation of NK cell cytotoxic activity and IL-1beta and IL-12 production. These findings suggest that changes in specific immune parameters correlate with elevated serum PCBs and DDE levels and endometriosis.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cell Proliferation; Concanavalin A; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins; K562 Cells; Killer Cells, Natural; Middle Aged; Pokeweed Mitogens; Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Clinical and experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that some steroidal drugs with androgenic effects might influence the immune system. The present study investigated whether gestrinone is able to affect macrophage and lymphocyte activity in vitro. Macrophage function was determined by phagocytosis of fluorescent microspheres, whilst lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by cell counting. Macrophage phagocytosis was evaluated after an overnight incubation in the presence or absence of gestrinone at serial dilutions; lymphocyte proliferation was detected in basal conditions and after stimulation with Concanavalin A (Con A) in the presence or absence of gestrinone. The results of this study showed that gestrinone significantly inhibited macrophage phagocytosis at the concentrations of 10(-8), 3 x 10(-8) and 10(-7) M. Furthermore, a significant suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis was observed when lymphocytes were incubated with gestrinone at the concentration of 10(-7) M for 6 days. The biological significance of gestrinone as an inhibitor of immune functions under experimentally defined conditions is discussed in relation to its potential mechanism for fertility enhancement.

Topics: Adult; Concanavalin A; Endometriosis; Female; Gestrinone; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; In Vitro Techniques; Lymphocyte Activation; Macrophages; Phagocytosis

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein of which sugar chains are considered to show structural changes with malignancy. To study the sugar chain heterogeneity of urinary hCG in patients with gynecological disease, we employed serial lectin affinity chromatography (LAC) using concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin-E (PHA-E) which can separate N-glycoside-linked sugar chains, and Jacalin lectin which is specific for O-glycoside-linked sugar chains. The proportion of hCG which did not bind to Con A was clearly higher in patients with cervical cancer than in healthy pregnant women. The complex-type sugar chains bearing bisecting (beta 1-4) N-acetylglucosamine which bound to PHA-E increased in the early stage of cervical cancer, and tri- and tetra-antennary complex type sugar chains also increased in the advanced stages. In addition, the Jacalin-bound hCG increased significantly along with the stage of the cancer, especially in advanced cervical cancer with distant metastases. Taken together, these results show that alteration in sugar chain structures of hCG reflect the advanced stage of cervical cancer.

Topics: Carbohydrates; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Chromatography, Affinity; Concanavalin A; Diagnosis, Differential; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Phytohemagglutinins; Pregnancy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms